Govt revises welfare schemes for migrants

The government has decided to revise the existing welfare schemes for Nepali migrants workers from this fiscal year.

The move is aimed at providing better social security schemes to migrant workers, most importantly to the families of those killed and injured in work destinations.

The Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) is pressing for the earliest implementation of the May 27 decision.

Under the new provision, families of deceased migrant workers will be entitled to double the compensation amount of the existing scheme from the fund, explained Raghu Raj Kafle, executive director at the FEPB. It will also be applicable to those workers who contracted critical diseases or suffered serious injuries

“We have taken into consideration grievances of migrant workers’ kin regarding compensation. This decision is expected to bring relief to such families to a greater extent,” said Kafle. “We are trying everything in our power to implement this provision from the first week of Shrawan.”

Once implemented, the families of deceased migrant workers will get Rs700,000, up from Rs300,000. The compensation will be paid by the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund, which is maintained by the FEPB as per the Foreign Employment Act 2007.

Similarly, the family of the deceased migrant will also have a life insurance coverage amounting to Rs1.5 million, up from the existing Rs500,000.

“We have increased the premium by 40 percent,” Kafle said. “However, the family of the deceased migrant worker will get a total of Rs1.5 million that also covers costs for transportation, cremation, medical treatment.”

The decision—third amendment to the existing Foreign Employment Regulation 2008—has yet to be included in the Nepal Gazette.

Once implemented the board will also cover 15 types of critical diseases, including kidney failure, cancer, heart attack, and critical injuries.

“Migrant workers who suffer from life threatening diseases and severe injuries often do not have enough money for treatment immediately,” Kafle said, adding that the board would try to provide them with Rs500,000 immediately.

The welfare fund currently holds more than Rs4 billion in its account. The bereaved families can claim the compensation after producing required documents. The procedure to receive compensation will take not longer than 3 hours, according to the FEPB.